
Members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital care for the injured during the Korean War and use humor to escape from the horror and depression of the situation. Among the 4077's people are Capts. Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce and "Trapper John" McIntire, Majs. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan and Frank Burns, and Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly.

A "chest cutter" and a nurse from the 8063rd are sent to the 4077th in return for Hawkeye and Nurse Bigelow.

Col. Potter learns that negative reports regarding him and the 4077th have reached Seoul.

An old and dear friend of Col. Potter's arrives with injuries sustained in a careless accident.

When Charles is handed the job of being the 4077's charity collection officer, he desperately tries to pass the buck.